How to Measure Your Room for a Wooden TV Stand with Open Shelves in 5 Easy Steps

To measure your room for a wooden TV stand with open shelves, follow five steps: measure the wall and mark obstacles, measure your television, measure every device that will sit on the shelves, check your viewing height from the sofa, and confirm the walkway and delivery route. With those five sets of figures written down, you can compare stands with confidence and avoid the two most common problems: a stand that is too small for the screen, and shelves that are too shallow or too low for the equipment.

Open shelving adds an extra layer to the usual TV stand measurements because the shelves themselves have to fit your devices, not just the room. Once you have your numbers, browsing our wooden TV stands UK sale range becomes far quicker. You will also find open shelf designs across our wider modern TV stands UK collection, alongside closed and mixed storage options.

What You Will Need

• A retractable metal tape measure, ideally at least five metres long.
• A notepad and pencil, or a notes app on your phone.
• Masking tape for marking the floor and wall.
• A second person, which makes measuring long walls and heights much easier.

Measure in centimetres throughout. Product dimensions are usually listed in centimetres, and mixing units is a frequent cause of mistakes.

Step 1: Measure the Wall and Mark the Obstacles

Start with the wall where the stand will sit. Measure its full width from corner to corner at floor level, since skirting boards and uneven plaster can make the base narrower than the top.

Then note everything that interrupts it:

• Sockets, aerial points and broadband connections, with their distance from each corner and from the floor.
• Radiators, including how far they project from the wall.
• Windows and their sills.
• Doors on or near the wall, and the arc they sweep when opening.
• Chimney breasts, alcoves and any pipework.

Sketch the wall on paper and write each measurement against it. This drawing becomes your reference when you look at stand dimensions. Aim to leave some clear wall either side of the stand, which looks more balanced than a piece squeezed edge to edge.

Step 2: Measure Your Television

Screen sizes are quoted diagonally, which is not much help when choosing furniture. Instead, measure:

• Overall width: from one edge of the frame to the other.
• Overall height: including the stand or feet if the television will sit on them.
• Footprint: the width and depth of the base, or the distance between the outer edges of the feet.

The footprint matters most. Many modern televisions have feet at the far ends of the screen, which means the stand must be nearly as wide as the television itself. Others have a central pedestal that needs less width but a certain depth.

As a general guide, choose a stand that is at least as wide as the television. A little extra width on each side gives room for a lamp, a speaker or a plant, and keeps the screen visually settled.

If you plan to wall mount the screen instead, the stand’s width becomes more flexible. Our range of wall TV brackets UK includes fixed and tilting options, and a mounted screen frees the top of the stand for display.

Step 3: Measure Every Device for the Open Shelves

This is the step that is specific to open shelving, and the one most often skipped. List every item you want to keep on the shelves, and measure the width, depth and height of each.

Typical items include:

• Games consoles, which can be surprisingly deep and often need to lie flat or stand upright.
• Streaming boxes and routers.
• Soundbars, if they will sit on a shelf rather than on top.
• Amplifiers and turntables.
• Baskets, boxes, books or records.

Now add clearance. Allow space above each device so heat can escape and space behind for cables and plugs. When you compare stands, look for the internal shelf height and internal depth rather than the external dimensions, since back panels and shelf thickness reduce usable space.

If you have more items than a single stand can hold, a matching shelving piece alongside can take the overflow. Our shelving units and storage UK include open wooden designs that sit comfortably beside a TV stand.

Step 4: Check Your Viewing Height

Comfortable viewing depends on the relationship between your eye level when seated and the centre of the screen. Sit on your sofa in your normal position and have someone measure from the floor to your eye level.

A comfortable arrangement generally places the centre of the screen at or slightly below that eye level. To estimate the ideal stand height, take your seated eye level and subtract half the height of the television. The result is a sensible target for the top of the stand.

Open shelf stands vary in height depending on how many tiers they have. A single shelf stand is often low, while a two tier design sits higher. Check that your target height is achievable with the shelf layout you need.

For more detail on common heights and how they relate to screen sizes, our guide to low TV unit measurements for UK living rooms is a helpful reference.

Step 5: Confirm the Walkway and Delivery Route

Walkway

Measure from the wall where the stand will sit to the front of the sofa or the nearest piece of furniture. Subtract the depth of the stand you are considering. What remains is your walkway and viewing space. Make sure there is enough room to walk past comfortably and to reach the shelves without stepping over anything.

Mark the stand’s footprint on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day or two. It is the simplest way to see whether the size feels right.

Delivery route

Measure the narrowest points between your front door and the living room: door frames, hallway width, turns in the stairs and any tight corners. Wider stands in particular can struggle with narrow terraced hallways. Check whether the stand arrives assembled or flat packed, as this makes a significant difference.

Allowing for Future Changes

A TV stand usually outlasts the television on top of it. Before you settle on a maximum width, think about whether you are likely to replace the screen with a larger one in the next few years. If so, allow some extra width now. The same applies to devices: a household with one streaming box today might add a console or soundbar later, so an extra open compartment is rarely wasted.

Think too about how the room itself might change. If you plan to replace the sofa, add a rug or move a radiator, note how those changes could affect the walkway and viewing distance. Measuring with the future in mind helps the stand stay useful for longer.

Common Measuring Mistakes

• Measuring the diagonal screen size instead of the actual width.
• Using the external shelf height instead of the internal clearance.
• Forgetting cable space behind devices.
• Ignoring skirting boards, which push the stand further from the wall.
• Overlooking radiators close to the chosen position.
• Not checking whether doors and drawers nearby can still open.

Putting Your Measurements to Use

Once you have your five sets of figures, write a short summary: maximum width, maximum depth, target height, minimum internal shelf height and depth, and the narrowest point on the delivery route. With this list, you can rule stands in or out quickly, and focus on finish and style rather than worrying about fit.

The same principles apply to other wood finishes and stand types. Our article on measuring a UK room for an oak TV unit offers a complementary perspective focused on closed storage units.

A Final Word

Measuring properly takes a little time, but it is the most reliable way to choose a wooden TV stand with open shelves that suits both your room and your equipment. Work through the five steps, keep your notes to hand, and use masking tape to test the footprint before you decide. The result will be a stand that fits, functions and looks at home.

When you have your measurements ready, you can explore open shelf TV stands and living room storage at Furniture in Fashion. Returns are available up to 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much wider than the TV should the stand be?

At least as wide as the television, and ideally a little wider on each side. This keeps the screen stable and balanced, and leaves space for a lamp or speaker.

What is a good height for a TV stand?

Take your seated eye level and subtract half the height of the television. That gives a comfortable target height for the top of the stand.

How deep should open shelves be for devices?

Measure each device and add space behind for cables and airflow. Compare this with the internal shelf depth of the stand, not the overall depth.

Do I need to measure the delivery route?

Yes, particularly for wider stands or those delivered assembled. Measure doors, hallways and stair turns to be sure the stand can reach the room.

Should I leave space between the stand and the wall?

A small gap helps with cable routing and ventilation, especially for open shelves holding electronics. Skirting boards often create this gap naturally.